Nigerian winger Nathan Tella has set his sights on winning the UEFA Europa League with Bayer Leverkusen, drawing inspiration from the German club’s memorable European campaign in the 2023/24 season.
Leverkusen were scheduled to face Polish side Lech Poznań at the Poznań Stadium on Thursday in a Matchday Two fixture.
Tella hopes the team can build on its recent performances and reproduce the impressive form that took them to the Europa League final two seasons ago.
Reflecting on the club’s previous European campaign, the Nigerian international described the experience as special and a source of motivation for the current season.
“Those were magical nights. We want to build on those, as well as the last few games,” Tella said, according to the club’s official website.
The competition also holds personal significance for the former Burnley player, having provided him with some of his first major experiences in European football.
Tella scored his first Europa League goal for Leverkusen on October 5, 2023, during a 2-1 victory over Norwegian club Molde.
He said the experience strengthened his attachment to the tournament and his desire to achieve further success in the competition.
“This competition means a lot to me. They were my first games in Europe,” he said.
Leverkusen enjoyed an unbeaten run throughout the 2023/24 Europa League campaign before reaching the final in Dublin.
However, their hopes of lifting the trophy were dashed by Italian side Atalanta, who defeated them in the final.
Despite that setback, the campaign remains a significant chapter in the club’s European history.
Tella now hopes to help Leverkusen mount another serious challenge for the trophy, using the lessons from their previous run as motivation.
The Nigerian winger’s contribution could prove important as the German side seeks to progress through the competition.
For Tella, winning the Europa League would represent a major achievement in his career and an opportunity to add another memorable chapter to his European football journey.
